Rep Stage, the two-decade-old Equity theater company based at Howard Community College, has named two Marylanders to succeed Michael Stebbins as artistic director. Suzanne E. Beal and Joseph W. Ritsch will serve as co-producing artistic directors.

Beal, who has directed several Rep Stage productions in the past, is current board chair, resident director and associate artist of the Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick. She is also a playwright and educator.

Ritsch is co-founder and former associate artistic director of Baltimore's Iron Crow Theatre Company, which focuses on LGBT works. He's an actor, playwright and choreographer as well -- he provided the choreography for Everyman Theatre's just-concluded production of "The Beaux' Stratagem."

In a statement released Tuesday, Rep Stage founding artistic director and HCC dean of arts and humanities Valerie Lash said she was confident that the "combined expertise and experience" of the new team would "lead Rep Stage into a new season, and continue to bring Rep Stage's brand of theatre to the community."